Arts & culture in Yass Valley

Highlights

Heritage trails

Start exploring on a heritage trail like the Yass Town Walk. Pick up a map from the Yass Valley Information Centre and discover 19th-century streetscapes and grand colonial architecture, such as the Yass Courthouse. Relax in leafy Banjo Paterson Park, named after the Australian bush poet who lived in the region as a boy.

Yass Town Walk, Yass - Credit: Yass Valley Tourism

Colonial explorer Hamilton Hume lived in Yass and you can visit his former home, historic Cooma Cottage, now a National Trust museum. Explore the Gundaroo Heritage Walk on a self-guided tour of the historic stone buildings of Gundaroo, from the Colonial Inn to the Old Boree Station Homestead.

Gundaroo Heritage Walk in Gundaroo, Yass

Gundaroo Heritage Walk, Gundaroo - Credit: Yass Valley Tourism

Galleries & museums

Visit the colourful art space of the beautifully restored Art Deco Tootsie Gallery Cafe or stop by the studio of Peter Minson Art Glass to see delicate hand-blown glass objects. Don’t miss Sculpture@Shaw, a biennial exhibition of sculptures by local and international artists at the renowned winery Shaw Wines.

Explore the Yass and District Museum and the Yass Railway Museum for a fascinating glimpse into the history of the region and see the mighty black 1307 steam locomotive that was in service for almost 100 years. At nearby Binalong, follow the Binalong Bushranger Walk and see bushranger Johnny Gilbert’s grave.

Peter Minson Art Glass at Binalong in Yass, Country NSW

Peter Minson Art Glass, Yass

Events & markets

Enjoy a busy events calendar including the delicious Harvest Hamper Trail in May, the Cooma Cottage Heritage Talk, part of the Australian Heritage Festival, and the Irish and Celtic Music Festival in September. There’s also an open garden at the Historic Merryville Homestead in Murrumbateman.

In Yass, visit the Yass Community Markets each month for local produce or browse the monthly Riverbank Markets for arts, crafts, books and food. The twice-monthly Murrumbateman Village Market specialises in local fresh food and crafts, while the Binalong Community Markets has a variety of delicious food, crafts and live music.